The Alarm lead singer Mike Peters has described the moment he sang on the Urdd Eisteddfod stage with his two young sons as a “dream come true”.

The father-of-two, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma 20 years ago and was then diagnosed with leukemia exactly 10 years later, wowed the festival’s audience with his performance at the opening concert on Sunday evening.

Peters was back on the Maes in Flint on Wednesday - after flying home from Los Angeles earlier this week.

And he said there was one special moment which he will always remember.

'Dream come true'

“I got the opportunity to play with my kids on stage,” he said. “That’s just a dream come true.”

“The boys have guitar and piano lessons and my view is that studies are important but through music they can also take their studies out to the community.”

Dylan, 12, and nine-year-old Efan - whose surname is ‘ap Michael’ after their father - go to Welsh language schools near their home town, Rhyl.

Cancer battle

After flying back from America, Mike will be heading to Norway on Friday for a two-week tour.

And just before making an appearance on the Glastonbury stage at the end of June he will be holding the tenth Snowdon Rocks event - a trek up Snowdon and a concert at the summit.

Mike said: “I was first diagnosed 20 years ago and then 10 years ago to this year.

“I’m still on oral chemotherapy every day. I took it this morning and will again this evening.

“This event is about giving back to the doctors and nurses who have kept me alive and allowed me to be a father, to see my children grow up, to continue playing music, and still be able to live in North Wales.

“That’s why I started Snowdon Rocks, to pay back for the love and support from them.

“I thought cancer was going to take all that away from me but I have had amazing support.

“The medical staff have been flexible and really treated me as an individual.”

Snwodon Rocks

Snowdon Rocks starts with a song from Mike at the foot of Snowdon before participants make their way to the summit.

A “strength train” takes cancer patients, their families and healthcare staff to the top and once at the summit Mike, and other acts, will hold a concert.

He will also be performing a free of charge gig at The Heights pub in Llanberis in the evening.

Elsewhere on Wednesday the Urdd Eisteddfod’s guest president of the day was another local music hero.

Joy Formidable

Lad singer and guitarist of The Joy Formidable, Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan was unable to be on the Maes as she is touring America with the band but sent her best wishes via video message.

THE JOY FORMIDABLE

As a child Rhiannon competed twice in the Eisteddfod with the acoustic guitar and she said she would like to see a competition composing a song or piece of contemporary music introduced to the festival.

“It would be cool to encourage something like that,” she said.

“It stands to reason that I enjoy all of the musical competitions and I also go to see the Art, Craft and Technology exhibition.”